# In 1956, Kirk Douglas had his most “painful experience” on a movie. It became his finest hour

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1956-kirk-douglas-had-his-most-painful-experience-on-a-movie-it-became-his-finest-hour/
- Published: 2026-10-24T21:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-24T22:11:29+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-1956-kirk-douglas-had-his-most-painful-experience-on-a-movie-it-became-one-of-his-finest-hours/
- Topics: Entertainment, Film

## Key points

- Douglas found playing van Gogh emotionally painful.
- The resemblance unsettled residents of the painter’s final home.
- The role brought Douglas a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination.

## Summary

Kirk Douglas’s portrayal of Vincent van Gogh in the 1956 film *Lust for Life* was one of his most acclaimed performances, but he later described the role as a painful experience. The intensity of the part and his resemblance to the painter made it difficult for him to distance himself from the character.

Douglas said people in the French town where van Gogh died felt as if the artist had returned when they saw him in costume. He waited about six months after filming before watching the film; the role earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor and a second Oscar nomination, while co-star Anthony Quinn won an Academy Award. Despite the acclaim, the film received mixed reviews and lost money at the box office.

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